Shuttleless loom



I -rm Na Oct. 22, 1957 SANDERSQN A 2,810,403

SHUTTLELESS LOOM Filed July 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KENNETH ESANDERSON 3 f Am-uouv JToscu-nzs A TTQRNE Y Oct. 22, 1957 K. E. SANDERSON 'ET AL ,8

SHUTTLELESS LOOM 4 Filed July 26, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y .SHUTTLELESS LOOM Application July 26, 1956, Serial No. 600,206

7 Claims. (Cl. 139-122) This invention relates to shuttleless looms of the type in which a flexible filling inserting member is alternately wound upon and unwound from an oscillating sheave, and more particularly, to a novel means for retaining the flexible member in contact with the sheave as it is actuated thereby.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a means for the purpose described which shall function effectively to hold the flexible member in contact with its sheave at all times and which will not contribute any appreciable friction load nor will it heat, wear or scuff the flexible member in use, and to dispense with the need for lubrication.

A more specific object is that of maintaining the memher in contact with its sheave by magnetic attracting forces.

Other objects will be apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

In shuttleless looms such as shown in United States Patent 2,641,285 filling is inserted by flexible inserting members of strip, spring steel which are alternately wound upon and unwound from wheels or sheaves which are oscillated throughout slightly less than a full revolution; These members are tight against their sheaves when retracted or wound, but when inserted into the warp shed, have to be held radially inwardly by some guide means. Such means have included rollers such as shown in U. S. Patent 2,604,123, but to be effective, these have to be very closely spaced. In practice they cannot be set as close to the member or tape as theoretically desired and thus there is a releasing and tightening action of the tape on its sheave at each pick. Again the rollers build up tremendous speeds at each oscillation and their direction has to be reversed at the end of each insertion and withdrawal. That with the high speed tends to wear the tapes and in a period of time gouges them rather badly. The life of a tape is apparently limited to something less than desired when the rollers are employed.

According to the invention, a sheave is so formed as to carry its tape on a thin, non-magnetic rim against which it is held by a series of magnets the forces of which are directed radially and of ample magnitude so that at no time is that part of the tape wound on the sheave rim separated therefrom.

The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a view to a larger scale showing details at one end.

Fig. 3 is a section taken at line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of parts indicating the manner of attachment of a flexible member to its sheave.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of part of the mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5.

Now referring to Fig. 1, the invention applies to that type of loom in which filling from a source of supply at the side of the loom is inserted by flexible members such as tapes of spring steel. The loom has among other parts, loomsides 10 and 11, a front girt 12, bottom girt 13 and a top motion at 14 and 15 from which depend harness frames 16 and 17. The fabric woven is taken up in a roll 18.

At each end, Figs. 2 and 3 also, a tape wheel or sheave 19 of light material such as aluminum, is oscillated to and fro as in United States Patent 2,604,123, or more preferably, by means such as described in copending application Serial No. 577,004. There a camshaft 20 has a crank 21 at each end which is connected by a pitman 22 to a crosshead and rack 23 movable in a crosshead slide 24. The rack oscillates a gear 25 through an intermediate direction reversing gear 26. These parts are duplicated at each side so illustration and description of one only is necessary.

The gearing, crosshead and rack are largely enclosed by a casing 27 which is interconnected to a larger casing 28 which houses the'oscillating wheel 19 and other parts. This wheel is fixed to a disk 29 at the end of a shaft 30 to the central part of which is keyed the gear 25. This shaft is borne in suitable bearings. The enclosure for the wheel and other parts is completed by a cover 31. The casings 27 and 28 and slide 24 are rigidly held to the loomside by brackets 32 and 33.

The wheel 19 has fixed to it one end of a flexible tape 34 which is of tempered spring steel and which also has at its free end either a forked inserter or hooked member to extend the filling depending upon the side of the loom at whichit is used. These tapes tend to assume a straight form, but may rather easily be bent about the sheave.

They are guided into and from the shed by a straight guide means 35 described in the Patent 2,604,123 supra, and magnetic means to be described. a

According to the instant invention, the flexible is not fixed in the central plane of the sheave as before, but is supported on a rim which overhangs at one side.

The wheel 19, Figs. 4 and 5, in particular, has a rim 36 screwed or otherwise attached to it as shown. This rim is formed with a dimple 37 pressed outwardly in it at a point at which the tape end is to be held. The tape end has a hole at that end which fits over the dimple and a plate 38, Fig. 6 also, is clamped in position by a bolt 39. A washer 40 of the same thickness as the tape is used to bring the plate to proper level.

The rim is of non-magnetic material such as a nonmagnetic stainless steel and is no thicker than necessary for purposes of strength and rigidity. Attached to the side of casing 23 and having their poles in position just inside the rim 36 are a number of permanent magnets 41. Each of them is clamped by a screw 42 and plate 43 to the casing as shown. These magnets are preferably of one of the highly permeable materials and size and spacing are such as to resist any tendency of the tape to leave the rim as the wheel is oscillated except, of course, as it enters the guide 35. A gap 44 is left at a sector from the top magnet to an end one the position of which is determined by that proportionate part of a revolution made by the sheave.

While it is not necessary to the general success of the device, other magnets may be used in the straight guide means 35. There magnets 45 and 46, Fig. 2, are fixed in position beneath a thin fiber plate against which the lower edge of the tape bears. These draw downwardly on the tape and more accurately control the movement thereof. The magnetic means at either the sheave or the straight guide may, however, be used independently of the other.

While it is preferred to use permanent magnets due to their simplicity, the fact they need no upkeep and are tape 1 (2 self-contained, electromagnets may be employed in which event control is to be provided to energize them before starting the loom.

, With the invention herein described and claimed, it is no longer necessary to lubricate the tape for its travel through fiber, roller, or other guides at the sheave or to lubricate and maintain the guide means itself. There is no friction or generation of heat where there has heretofore been considerable, sometimes to the detriment of the parts, at least, shortening their life to something less than that desired.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting filling which comprises a flexible member and an oscillating sheave to which said member is attached and upon which it is Wrapped and released as withdrawn from and projected into a warp shed, said flexible member normally tending to straighten when released, and means for holding said member'in contact with its sheave which comprises a means exerting radially directed magnetic forces thereon.

2. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting filling which comprises a flexible member and an oscillating sheave to which said member is attached and upon which it is wrapped and released as withdrawn from and projected into a warp shed, said flexible member normally tending to straighten when released, and means for holding said member in contact with its sheave which comprises a plurality of magnets radially disposed to said sheave and member as it is wrapped about said sheave.

3. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting filling which comprises a flexible member and 4 an oscillating sheave by which the member is withdrawn from and projected into a warp shed, said flexible member normally tending to straighten when released, said sheave having a rim of non-magnetic material to which said member is attached and upon which it is alternately wrapped and released, and means for holding said member in contact with said rim which comprises a plurality of magnets radially disposed to the sheave and having their poles adjacent the interior of the said rim.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein a guide means is provided adjacent said sheave and aligned for directing the flexible member tangentially from its sheave into the warp shed, and magnetic means functioning upon said member as it passes through the said guide means.

5. In a shuttleless loom of the type having means for inserting filling which comprises a flexible member and an oscillating sheave to which said member is attached and upon which it is wrapped and released as withdrawn from and projected into a warp shed, said flexible member normally tending to straighten when released, a guide means adjacent said sheave and aligned for directing the flexible member tangentially from its sheave into the warp shed, and magnetic means functioning upon said member as it passes through the said guide means.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said guide means is provided with a thin lower bearing plate of nonmagnetic material upon which said member slides and at least one magnet below said plate for attracting the member to retain it against said plate. 7

7. In a shuttleless loom of the type described, a means for inserting filling which includes a flexible member and means for projecting that member into and for withdrawing it from a warp shed, guide means for the flexible member and magnetic means for assisting the guide means in directing the member in a desired pathway,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,123 Budzyna et al. July 22, 1952 2,641,285 Flamand July 9, 1953 

